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9 December 2016

Here's how it works: The Recent Releases chart brings together critical reaction to new albums from more than 50 sources worldwide. It's updated daily. Albums qualify with 5 reviews, and drop out after 6 weeks into the longer timespan charts.

6.0 |
The Scotsman

6.0 |
Culture Deluxe

Taken in comparison to previous solo works, this is definitely a step up
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6.014812

6.0 |
State

The kind of record that only a man who barges into youth clubs to lecture on the power of music would have the guts and will to make. And as hard as that might be to believe, that’s no bad thing
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6.0 |
Mojo

6.0 |
Uncut

Ultimately it's hard to listen to a lot of this album without cringing
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6.014522

6.0 |
God Is In The TV

Verve fans will be taking a second glance at their MP3/CDs to see if this is really Richard Ashcroft that their listening to
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6.014559

6.0 |
BBC

It might not always succeed in its style-swapping, but The United Nations of Sound is certainly as bold a record as Ashcroft’s ever made. If you thought he was incapable of making non-Verve music, it's time to think again
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5.014427

5.0 |
The Digital Fix

Despite a few touches of the old verve, United Nations Of Sound is quite a let down
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4.014455

4.0 |
Q

As Ashcrofts' urban crossover record this is less Jay-Z more East 17. Print edition only

4.014883

4.0 |
The Skinny

Ashcroft may view this latest project as an ascension back to the forefront of the British music scene, but realistically it sounds like the death knell of a once promising career
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4.014602

4.0 |
Evening Standard

We find Richard doing a poor man's Marvin Gaye on Good Loving, a laughable Muddy Waters on How Deep Is Your Man and a hilarious Lou Reed on Royal Highness, which is so close to Sweet Jane that I wondered whose royalties he had in mind
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4.014627

4.0 |
The Observer

The United Nations of Sound should have been a lush, stirring work. Instead, it misfires wildly
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4.014684

4.0 |
Scotland on Sunday

Life Can Be So Beautiful emulates the smooth sound of Philadelphia, but is desperately close to parody
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4.023781

4.0 |
Rolling Stone

4.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit

If he keeps releasing music as dreadful as this, people won’t even be able to listen to his older material without bringing up his inferior current output, with even his classic songs being clouded by these lousy numbers
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4.015140

4.0 |
Daily Telegraph

Inspirational in small doses, the air of trite exultation becomes comica
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4.015197

4.0 |
The Quietus

Ashcroft is on record as claiming he's one of the best rock'n'roll frontmen of all time, but nothing quite prepares you for the arrogance underpinning United Nations of Sound
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4.014539

4.0 |
Drowned In Sound

Ultimately, despite some innovation, United Nations of Sound cannot transcend the presence of its architect, who renders half the tracks fundamentally unlistenable with his horrible attempts to play gospel preacher or loverman
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3.323775

3.3 |
A.V. Club

For a man with a true gift for epic pomposity, he’s mostly dull here
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3.314906

3.3 |
Beats Per Minute

Too many songs on offer here meander for too long without any development; too many genres are thrown together into the melting pot in the hopes of making something rewarding
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3.214892

3.2 |
Pitchfork

He too often tries to take the fast track to universal appeal, routinely dropping blank-slate slogans
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3.014523

3.0 |
NME

There’s plenty of the parping soul-lite where he strives for Marvin Gaye, but ends up at M People
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3.024632

3.0 |
Under The Radar

Overly eager to please, overly stylized, and falls way short of honoring the genres for which Ashcroft clearly cares deeply
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2.014565

2.0 |
The Guardian

Too much of United Nations of Sound feels like a vanity project gone horribly awry
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2.014470

2.0 |
music OMH

Has to go down as a pompous, self-indulgent rock folly. Not good. Not good at all
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